Method and device for producing alkylene oxides and alkylene glycols

Abstract

An integrated process for preparing alkylene oxides and alkylene glycols is described. For this purpose, an alkylene oxide plant and an alkylene glycol plant are combined with one another and the water originating from the alkylene oxide plant and also other constituents of the reaction mixture are introduced into the alkylene glycol plant. In this way, alkylene glycols which have been produced in the alkylene oxide plant can be recovered as materials of value and the water circulation into the alkylene glycol plant can be eliminated or drastically reduced. In addition, the energy-intensive treatment of the process water from the alkylene oxide plant can be dispensed with. The integration of the two processes leads overall to better energy efficiency and conservation of resources in the work-up of residues from the process.

Description

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY[0001]This non-provisional patent application is a national phase entry of International Patent Application No. PCT / EP2010 / 004933 (International Publication WO 2011 / 023300) filed on Aug. 12, 2010 and entitled “Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Alkylenoxiden und von Alkylenglykolen”. International Patent Application No. PCT / EP2010 / 004933 claims priority to German Application No. DE 10 2009 038 398.0, filed Aug. 24, 2009 of the same title. The priorities of International Patent Application No. PCT / EP2010 / 004933 and German Application No. DE 10 2009 038 398.0 are hereby claimed and their disclosures incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to a process for the combined preparation of alkylene oxides and alkylene glycols while simultaneously recovering the alkylene glycols formed as by-product during the preparation of alkylene oxide and also a plant matched to this process. Alternatively, the p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026]It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and energy-efficient process for the combined preparation of alkylene oxides and of alkylene glycols and, if so desired, of alkylene glycol ethers and for the recovery of the alkylene glycols and alkylene glycol ethers formed in secondary reactions in the alkylene oxide plant and also a plant suitable for this purpose.

Problems solved by technology

The alkylene glycols present in this process water result in a very high COD value or a very high burden of biodegradable substances, so that the biological purification plant has to be made very large and the water generally has to be diluted beforehand.

Due to the large amounts of water to be vaporized, large quantities of energy have to be introduced.

These compounds are, on the one hand, valuable chemicals but owing to the small amount can generally only be isolated with a high outlay in terms of apparatus and a high energy consumption, so that they have hitherto had to be disposed of in the work-up of the reaction residues.

However, this requires a high consumption of energy.

The process has not been implemented industrially to the present time.

Thus, the previously known process requires separate removal of the water from the first reactor and of the water from the second reactor, which results in a considerable outlay in terms of energy and capital costs since energy-intensive circulation of the water has to be carried out.

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